Railway signal-torpedo.



F. DUTGHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED APILZZ, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911 UNITED p TATE S PATENT @FFIQIG.

FRANK BUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

L all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCI-IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedo'es, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and pertains particularly to means for attaching the railengaging strap to the torpedo.

In the accompanying drawingFigure 1 is a perspective View of a torpedo showing my improvement attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the parts of the torpedo and the fastening device shown separated. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification of the present invention.

The form of torpedo to which my improvement is here shown applied comprises two open ended rectangular fiat telescoped cases, but this is the subject-matter of a copending application filed April 22, 1911, Serial Number 622777, and forms no part of my present improvement.

Referring generally to the form of torpedo here shown, it comprises an inner fiat rectangular tubular case and an outer similarly shaped case of a size to receive the inner case. Thesetubular cases are formed as is well-known of sheets of paper which are wrapped in tubular form, and in the construction here shown the outer case 2 has the outer end 3 of the sheet from which it is formed at the bot-tom thereof.

This improvement consists in the fastening device which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4,"

inclusive, comprises a metal strip 4 with an outwardly extending depression 5, which forms approximately a U-shaped projection. The bottom of the outer case 2 is provided with an opening 6, and the strip 4 is placed inside of the outer case 2 and the projection 5 extends through the opening 6, thus form ing a loop through which the rail-engaging strip 7 is passed, as clearly shOWIl in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Preferably the bottom wall or outer case 3, is provided with an upwardly extending groove 8, for the strip 4. In ap- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 22, 1911.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.. Serial No. 622,778.

plying the strip 4 to the outer case, it is placed through the case with its projection 5 extending through the opening 6, and the ends of the strip 4 are turned around the ends of the lower wall of the outer case and clamped thereto, as shown at 9, Figs. 1 and 2, and as shown in dotted lines Fig. 4. These turned over ends 9 serve to clamp the end 3 of the sheet of which the tube is formed and thus prevent it from coming loose.

As is well known when making the tube from the sheet, ordinary paste is used, and this paste is not water-proof. In a torpedo of the type here shown, the inner case 1, which contains the explosive compound 10 is made water-proof, because in testing torpedoes the different railroads require that the torpedo be capable of standing a soaking in water from one-half an hour to two hours without destroying its explosive qualities when run over by the wheels of a locomotive. The torpedo as a whole (both inner and outer cases) is subject to this test and unless the outer case is coated with water-proof composition, the sheet of which it is formed will open up under the soaking test and cause them to be condemned by the railroad testers.

By my present improvement the sheet from which the outer case is formed is prevented from opening up by the clamping ends 9, which clamp the outer free end of the sheet from which it is formed, and it is not necessary to go to the expense of waterproofing the outer case. The inner case is what protects the explosive compound, but, as above stated, it is necessary to prevent the sheet from which the outer case is formed becoming loose and practi- Cally destroying the whole torpedo for commercial purposes.

Fig. 5 is a slight modification in which event the strip 4 is made wider than the strip 4 and ears 5 are struck upwardly from the center of this strip, and these ears pass through the opening 6 and extend out side of the wall of the outer case to permit the rail-engaging strap 7 to pass thereunder and be clamped in position. In this modified form the ends of the strip 4 are doubled around and clamped to'the wall of the outer case, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, the same as in Fig. 1.

No claim is made herein to the form of torpedo case here shown per 86, as this is made the subject-matter of a co-pending application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with the case of a railway signal torpedo, of a strip passing through the case and having its ends turned outwardly and clamped around the wall of the case, the case having an opening and the strip a projection passing through the opening to receive and hold a rail-engaging strap to the case.

2. The combination with the case of a railway signal torpedo, of a strip applied to the inner side of the wall of the case, the ends of the strip turned around and clamped against the outside of said wall, the case having an opening, and the strip provided with an intermediately outwardly projecting substantially U-shaped loop extending outside of the case and adapted to receive the rail-engaging strap.

3. A railway signal torpedo comprising an open ended tubular case, a strip applied to the inner side thereof and projecting beyond the ends of the case and bent around and clamped to the outside of the case, the case having an opening, said strip having an outwardly extending projecting portion passing through the said opening and adapted to receive and clamp a rail-engaging strap to the torpedo case.

4. The combination with an open-ended tubular torpedo case formed of a Wrapped sheet of fiber, of a strip applied to and extending longitudinally of the tube, said strip having its intermediate portion engaging one side of the wall of the tube and its ends clamped around the ends of the tube and engaging the opposite side of the same wall for the purpose described, said strip having an intermediate projection, and a rail engaging strap held by said projection.

5. The combination with an open ended tubular torpedo case formed of a wrapped sheet of fiber, of a strip extending longitudinally through the case and at the inner side thereof, the ends of the strip bent around and clamped against the outer side of the case to hold the outer end of the sheet against unwrapping, said ease having an opening, and the strip provided with a projection passing through the opening to receive and hold the rail'engaging strap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER.

Vitnesses SIMON F. Lone, G ERTRUDE DAVIDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

